The safety measure is being considered after The Sunday Times last year revealed supplements, including protein shakes, contributed to the death of 25-year-old Mandurah mum Meegan Hefford.

Unknown to the mother-of-two, she had a rare genetic disorder that stopped her body from properly breaking down protein.

Following global coverage of the tragedy, Mr Hunt last year ordered the national food and medicine watchdogs to investigate the regulation of sports food supplements. He said yesterday Food Standards Australia New Zealand and Therapeutic Goods Administration had advised him “no regulatory” gaps existed.

But still concerned at the risk to consumers, Mr Hunt on Friday instructed the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) to investigate “enhancing the safety of consumers”.

He said concerns had been raised about whether products such as the one involved in Ms Hefford’s death were subject to appropriate regulation, including labelling.

“And whether or not there is a need for wider awareness of the potential of products like these to cause serious harm to consumers where there may be underlying genetic disorders, or when not taken as intended,” the minister told the FRSC.

He instructed the committee to investigate opportunities at the Commonwealth and/or State level to “enhance the safety of consumers who choose to use this type of project, including through improved labelling, consumer education or other measures”.

A roundtable involving governments, consumer groups and industry and health professionals will “explore all possible options” and develop a plan to improve awareness.

The roundtable will also “help shape the key issues” in a review by FSANZ of supplementary sports food. FRSC chair Dr Lisa Studdert will report back by September.

Ms Hefford’s death certificate listed “intake of bodybuilding supplements” as one of the causes of death, along with the undiagnosed urea cycle disorder.

She was taking protein shakes and eating protein-rich foods to get in shape for a bodybuilding competition before her death.

Meegan’s mother Michelle White, who is marking the one-year anniversary of her daughter’s death this week, hoped Mr Hunt would succeed in delivering reforms after waiting so long for her concerns to be addressed.

“I hate to think how many other people’s lives and their health have been put at risk while the supplements industry gets away with such lax control,” Ms White said.

“It’s been a year since Meegan left us and nothing has happened, so I hope Mr Hunt can bring about the changes he says he’s going to and I hope they make a difference.

“While Meegan had an unknown medical condition and her exposure to protein ended up being deadly, there’s lots of other people out there with medical conditions, whether they know it or not, and their health is at risk because of these products.

“There has to be more control of the products and the gyms who promote these diets and products.”

WA Health Minister Roger Cook said he supported any improved labelling or limits on advertising that provided consumers with better information and discouraged overuse.

“Any products making vague or generalised claims related to health and wellbeing that might lead to consumers taking a risk is a concern,” he said.

Monash University public health expert Professor Ken Harvey said supplements were hard to control because they were not regarded as a food or a medicine.